Bitter Night: A Horngate Witches Book
Page 32
She sat up as Max barged in. She was barely more than a skeleton wrapped in a skin suit. Her hair was crisp like straw, and her hands shook uncontrollably. She eyed Max with resigned wariness. Max glared back with a spurt of hot anger and began prowling restlessly. She didn’t know what she wanted to say. The idea of saying she wanted a truce actually hurt, like jagged glass wedged in her chest.
Finally she flung herself into a chair opposite the couch, slouching low. “All right. I’ll help.”
Giselle didn’t need any explanation. She sat up, her eyes widening, her cheeks flushing. With relief? Triumph? Max ground her teeth together.
“You won’t fight me anymore?” Giselle’s voice quavered, though whether from weakness or from emotion, there was no telling.
Max smiled a cold smile. “It all depends.”
“On what? I won’t release your bindings. I told you that before.”
“I remember, and I’m not asking for that. But if you want my full cooperation, then you don’t fuck me over anymore. And I get a say in how things are done. You have to stop keeping secrets, too. I want to know what’s going on. If you do that, then you can have me. All of me. Balls to the wall. Take it or leave it.”
“I still get the final say on decisions,” Giselle warned. “And you have to trust that everything I do is for Horngate.”
Max nodded, her lip curling, feeling like she’d been chewing on rancid meat. She always knew that everything the witch did was for Horngate. It wasn’t until the last few days that she’d realized she was no different’there wasn’t much she wouldn’t do to protect the place’her home, her people. That didn’t mean she and Giselle were going to start having slumber parties and braiding each other’s hair. Abruptly Max stood. “So we’re agreed?”
“Yes.”
“Fine.”
Max turned and started for the door, then stopped. She swung back around.
“For the record, just what did you promise Scooter? He’it’said I was his gift.”
“Scooter?” Giselle frowned.
Max sighed gustily. “Your little friend in the basement’the one who’s been guarding our back door. Just what is he expecting from me?”
Giselle smiled faintly. “Oh.” She shook her head. “I honestly don’t know. My visions told me that you were the one he was looking for. I don’t know why. But I know we need him here.”
Max tipped her head. “For what?”
“I don’t know that either. But try not to’” She waved a hand meaningfully.
“What?”
“Piss him off. Send him screaming into another dimension. Just play nice.”
Max shook her head. “I just hope his idea of playing doesn’t leave me in a coma.” She paused. “There’s another thing.”
“What?” Giselle was wary again.
“My family’I want to bring them here. And everyone else who has family should fetch them, too. Before the Guardians let loose on the world.”
For a moment the witch said nothing, then slowly she nodded. “Do it. And, Max, we need to rebuild, and fast. I have some ideas, but you’re not going to like them. As soon as I’m on my feet again, we’re going to get started.”
And just like that everything changed. Enemies were friends, and friends were enemies. Max smiled. It was thin but without hate or bitterness. “I’ll be ready.”